baleful

[ beyl-fuhl ]

adjective

1. full of menacing or malign influences; pernicious.

   Synonyms: deadly, wicked, evil, detrimental, injurious, malign, harmful

2. Obsolete. wretched; miserable.

baleful

/ ˈbeɪlfʊl /

adjective

1. harmful, menacing, or vindictive
2. archaic.
   dejected

Derived Forms

• ˈbalefully, adverb
• ˈbalefulness, noun

Other Words From

• baleful·ly adverb
• baleful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of baleful¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English bealofull. See bale ², -ful

Example Sentences

They will all trace back to Wednesday, back to Dublin, back to the Europa League final, and they will all take exactly the same, baleful form: What if?

From New York Times

But if a favorable disqualification ruling were joined by a ruling for Trump on immunity, it would take a baleful bite out of the court’s already tattered reputation and the future of our democracy.

From Salon

The baleful precedent of Jan. 6 and the countless death threats to judges, politicians, election workers and others coming from Trump’s supporters suggest we should assume the possibility of a worst-case scenario.

From Salon

A muscled baleful Spider person voiced by Oscar Isaac is present to impress on Gwen and Miles that being a superhero often involves hard choices as to who to save — and who you can’t.

From Seattle Times

Holmes’s comments remind us that there’s a long and baleful backstory behind today’s efforts to bring back child labor.

From Scientific American